Missing luck and X-factor leaves Spain fearing play-offs

Missing luck and X-factor leaves Spain fearing play-offs

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's trip to play group leaders France on Tuesday assumed even greater significance after a shock 1-1 home draw with Finland left the champions contemplating the playoffs to make the World Cup finals.

Some resolute defending and Teemu Pukki's 79th-minute strike on the counter-attack left Vicente del Bosque's side second in Group I, two points behind France with four games left to play.

Only one team from each group earns direct qualification for the finals in Brazil next year, with the eight best runners-up entering a play-off for the last four European berths.

"Another big slip-up," was the frontpage headline in sports daily Marca on Saturday, after a second consecutive home draw in qualifying following last October's 1-1 draw with France.

"The World Cup is in danger," read Sport's frontpage, but the message from the team itself was less alarmist.

"We completely dominated for 90 minutes but we didn't have luck in the final third," coach Del Bosque, who guided the team to victory at the 2010 World Cup and at Euro 2012, told a news conference.

"We have been touched by a magic wand in terms of luck in recent years, but we didn't have any today.

"There is no need to be pessimistic because we still hold our destiny in our own hands. We have to go to France and win and after that there are still three more games."

Finland coach Mixu Paatelainen said he had studied Barcelona matches to find the best way to foil Spain, who started with seven players from the La Liga leaders.

CAT AND MOUSE

The game resembled last season's Champions League semi-final second leg between Barca and Chelsea, when the English side snatched a draw to progress despite overwhelming possession for the hosts.

"We took a risk with a tactic that is little like cat and mouse and it worked well," Paatelainen said. "We succeeded in frustrating Spain."

France are unlikely to employ a similar tactic in Paris, but Spain will also be better equipped to deal with a massed defence as midfield stalwarts Xavi and Xabi Alonso are expected to return on Tuesday.

The experienced duo were rested for Friday's encounter as they recover from nagging injuries.

"Spain were without Xavi, the hand that rocks the cradle, and Xabi, who provides the framework," sports daily AS wrote on Saturday.

"(Spain's play) needs a degree of precision which wasn't there last night."

Spain had taken the lead in Gijon with a header from captain Sergio Ramos, who at only 26 was celebrating his 100th appearance for the national team.

The straight-talking Real Madrid defender was brutally honest about a below-par performance.

"When you don't win you have to know how to handle the criticism. It should make us reflect and react," he told Spanish radio.

"After our goal we eased off a little. We relaxed. It seemed we had done enough."

Barcelona fullback Jordi Alba finished with a muscle strain which was to be checked over later on Saturday, making him a possible doubt for Tuesday.